SAN JOSE CITY – One of Nueva Ecija’s most wanted persons with pending murder charges was killed in a reported encounter with police operatives in Barangay Kita-Kita this city at around 4 p.m. Thursday.
The suspect, identified as Claro Fragata, resident of the said place and no. 7 in the province’s wanted list fired a .45 pistol at the city police’s warrant operatives prompting an exchange of fire, police said.
Lt. Col. Heryl Bruno, city police chief, said operatives were out to implement an arrest warrant issued by the Cabanatuan City Regional Trial Court Branch 25 when the incident occurred.
“During the course of arrest, the suspect pulled his short firearm and fired upon the operating troops that ensued the firefight,” Bruno said in a report to the Nueva Ecija provincial police office.
It resulted to the suspect’s death, he said.
Forensic investigators recovered from the encounter scene the suspect’s gun and several empty shells, police said.
